13 Signs You'll Grow Up To Be An English Major

Choosing a major in college can be really hard and really stressful. And even though you know it will probably change about 5 times within 4 years, you still stress over the decision.

I was in the same boat until I realized all the signs that I wanted to study English (reading, writing, literature) were right in front of my face. So if you're guilty of any of these like me, then maybe you need to look at your school's English department a little bit closer.

1. Your parents read to you as a child

This most likely occurred when you were younger and just starting to read and explore all the worlds and emotions books had to offer.

This happened when you were about to go to bed, or just chilling with your mom on the couch, but either way, it was definitely one of your favorite parts of the day. (Bonus if your parents gave different voices to the characters because that's totally something you do in your head now).

2. Trips to the library are/were as frequent as trips to the mall (maybe even more so)

It's literally a building full of free books, it doesn't get better than that!

For me, these trips occurred every Monday night, and I would always scour the shelves for a new and exciting adventure. And then my dad would take FOREVER to find the book he wanted so I would have time to just curl up in a library chair and read.

3. You totally wrote fanfiction

I mean, it doesn't have to be officially published or anything but do not lie, it's totally something you did. And it's actually so fun.

4. Words aren't just black, squiggly lines on a page

You never saw the words in books as just words, they always immediately conjured up images in your mind, or emotions in your soul. It got to the point where they weren't even words, just imaginary images and experiences.

And you try to share this phenomenon in your writing as well.

5. There were definitely moments when you laughed aloud, or gasped in a quiet room, because of something that happened in a book

Many people can just read about events and characters and just "look" at what is happening, but not you.

You actually feel what the characters are feeling and are able to visualize events so well that major plot points inspire physical reactions out of you, which is honestly the best way to experience any novel, in my opinion.

6. You can easily point to your "literacy sponsor"

Literacy sponsors, a term coined by Deborah Brandt in her "Sponsors of Literacy" essay, are those in our lives that support and/or teach us in the understanding (or lack thereof) of certain types of literacy.

If you're an English major, you can usually identify who or what this was in your life, and how they have affected your future.

7. You frequently recommend books to your siblings, friends and random people

You read a lot, so why not do a service and tell the world what they would enjoy?

Plus doing this allows you to have other people you can talk to about these books or writings, which enhances any reading experience tenfold.

These discussions not only strengthen friendships and the love of the written word but also helps you understand new perspectives and ideas you may never have thought of before.

8. When engaging in activism, you don't just rally — you write!

Words can be a massive form of persuasion and an effective way to get things done.

You know how books and speeches and letters have affected you in the past, so you understand how they can help others.

Before rallies, or canvassing or fighting, words are always the first place you turn when you want to make a difference. It's just natural.

9. You've totally fangirled about your favorite novels

Whether it's dressed up as your favorite characters to the midnight premiere of the movie, or walked into every single store in Universal Studio's Diagon Alley, or took an hours-long trip just to meet your favorite author in person, you've definitely gone above and beyond just reading the books themselves.

10. You always got lowkey excited about required novels in English class

Most people in their middle and high school English classes would groan when the teacher would assign a novel for the class to read and study, but you were always a tiny bit happy about it.

It was an experience to read a book you may not have read otherwise and understand more about the context, language, and symbolism that you may have missed if you read it alone.

11. You actually read in your free time

Books are actually really good, especially when you have the freedom to choose what you want to read about. You could never understand how someone could hate reading.

12. You have plans to write a book someday

The topic could be anywhere from dragons to doughnuts, but the point it, you have a constant story in your head that's just waiting to be written down.

13. You understand the power of the written word

You understand how words aren't just words, how they are living, breathing, vibrant things that reach across the page and into life and emotions. They can do so much more than just exist.

I will leave you with a sentence I wrote in the essay that helped me decide I wanted to be an English major.

"Words never began as just lines on a page for me, they were fluid objects that created worlds and characters and maximized my senses to the possibilities all around me, while creating opportunities for fun and intellectual stimulation."

If that rings true for you as well, have you ever considered majoring in English?

10 Things Someone Who Grew Up In A Private School Knows

1. Uniforms

Plaid. The one thing that every private school-goer knows all too well. It was made into jumpers, skirts, shorts, scouts, hair ties, basically anything you could imagine, the school plaid was made into. You had many different options on what to wear on a normal day, but you always dreaded dress uniform day because of skirts and ballet flats. But it made waking up late for school a whole lot easier.

2. New people were a big deal

New people weren't a big thing. Maybe one or two a year to a grade, but after freshman year no one new really showed up, making the new kid a big deal.

3. You've been to school with most of your class since Kindergarten

Most of your graduating class has been together since Kindergarten, maybe even preschool, if your school has it. They've become part of your family, and you can honestly say you've grown up with your best friends.

4. You've had the same teachers over and over

Having the same teacher two or three years in a row isn't a real surprise. They know what you are capable of and push you to do your best.

5. Everyone knows everybody. Especially everyone's business.

Your graduating class doesn't exceed 150. You know everyone in your grade and most likely everyone in the high school. Because of this, gossip spreads like wildfire. So everyone knows what's going on 10 minutes after it happens.

6. Your hair color was a big deal

If it's not a natural hair color, then forget about it. No dyeing your hair hot pink or blue or you could expect a phone call to your parents saying you have to get rid of it ASAP.

7. Your school isn't like "Gossip Girl"

There is no eating off campus for lunch or casually using your cell phone in class. Teachers are more strict and you can't skip class or just walk right off of campus.

8. Sports are a big deal

Your school is the best of the best at most sports. The teams normally go to the state championships. The rest of the school that doesn't play sports attends the games to cheer on the teams.

9. Boys had to be clean-shaven, and hair had to be cut

If you came to school and your hair was not cut or your beard was not shaved, you were written up and made to go in the bathroom and shave or have the head of discipline cut your hair. Basically, if you know you're getting written up for hair, it's best just to check out and go get a hair cut.

10. Free dress days were like a fashion show

Wearing a school uniform every day can really drive you mad. That free dress day once a month is what you lived for. It was basically a fashion show for everyone, except for those upperclassmen who were over everything and just wore sweat pants.

Academics and Creativity Conflicts

As students, we are heavily focused on academics. Some of us may also be heavily focused on athletics. Anything that helps or is integrated into our academic careers has a way of controlling how we live our daily life. We go to class, we study and do homework, we attend activities/work, and then we most likely have little time to relax.

One thing that seems to lack in the academic world is creativity. Many students may say "Well, I'm not creative." Why have students subjected themselves to being uncreative individuals? How does someone define "creativity" as the verbatim definition across the world? Creativity can be used widely if we are aware of how it can be done.

In the classroom, students can find creative ways to approach a debate, a different way of understanding a topic, changing the argument and allowing different perspectives and voices to be heard, and so much more.

Students can find different ways of changing the issues our communities may face such as homelessness, segregated communities, etc.

Organizations can be created to fill in the gaps our communities may have (including in a university).

Students can remain to do creative activities such as crafts, writing, art, etc. This can be done within different organizations or in the comfort of the student's home.

There are different platforms that encourage creativity like photoshop, video editing software, websites like Wattpad to create and share your own stories, and more.

We cannot let academics take over every moment of our lives. It can easily result in a point where we have no motivation to do anything at all because we are in a constant routine that can drain us. We are more than school, although it is still very important. If we shall succeed, we have to embrace the things we love to do and not forget about who we are.